How to Answer Extended
Response Questions
What is a Constructed Response?
Two types:
0 Short Answer
0 Extended Response
0 Try to answer your ERQ in about 10-15 minutes
How to Score Well on an
Extended Response
0 To understand and answer the extended
response question, the easiest way is to
memorize the acronym "RACE" - this stands
for restate, answer, cite and explain. If you are
able to restate a question, provide an answer
using evidence cited from the text(s) given,
and then explain how that evidence supports
the answer, you will probably score well on
the extended response question. This is
usually an answer that is more than one
paragraph.
“R.A.C.E.”
0Restate the question
0Answer the question
0Cite evidence from the text
0Explain how the evidence supports your answer
Restate the Question (the "R" in
"RACE")
0 Restate the question means that you are to put the
question into a statement as a part of the answer you
provide.
What color is the sky?
The sky is blue.
Where did you go for vacation this year?
I went to Disney World for vacation this year.
How many states have you visited?
I have visited 12 states.
Who is your favorite teacher?
My favorite teacher is Mrs. Sheehy!
Answer the Question (the "A" in
"RACE")
0 What is the question asking?
0 MAKE SURE YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION! STAY FOCUSED
ON THE QUESTION!
0 The answer, as in the previous example, may come in the
first sentence as you restate the question into a statement,
but in an extended response question you will then need to
show how/why you arrived at your answer.
Cite the Evidence (the "C" in "RACE")
Most extended response questions will require you to
support your answers with details from the reading
passage. You can do this in a few ways:
• with a direct quotation – The passage states, “………”
• with a paraphrase – As the passage says, ……. (in your
own words)
Citing Evidence with Direct
Quotations
0 When you give a direct quotation from the passage to
back up your ideas, you must place the text in
quotation marks.
0 Example: The narrator says, “As men busied themselves
about their various concerns. . .”
0 Other phrases to set up your direct quotations include:
“According to the text,……..” “The author states,…….” and
“According to the passage……”
Citing Evidence with
Paraphrases
0 You may paraphrase or put a few lines from the
passage into your own words, as long as you make it
clear that you are doing so. Be careful not to pass off
another writer’s ideas as your own.
0 Example: The narrator says that people were going
about their usual lives at the time of the attack.
Explain how the Evidence
Supports your Answer (the "E" in
"RACE")
0 In addition to the evidence you've cited from the text, you
will need to supply your own reasoning for why you think
your answer is correct and how your evidence supports
your answer.
0 I think this shows that…
0 Example – Describe the main character from the passage. Tell about the character
traits that make her a special person.
Tracey is the main character in the passage. Tracey has character traits that make
her a good person! Tracey is a good friend, a caring mother, and an intelligent
business woman.
The author explains that Tracey is a good friend she is always there when her
best friend needs someone to talk to. Having this quality makes you a good friend
because it shows that Tracey listens and tries to help her friend through difficult
times.
The passage states that, “Tracey will do anything to keep her children safe and
happy.” This shows that Tracey is a caring mother. In the story she took her children
to the doctor when they were sick and she also makes sure they have the chance to
laugh a lot.
Tracey works hard to help her company be successful and has creative ideas,
according to the passage. Tracey works many extra hours to complete projects and
help her customers. The passage explains that she is creative and is always creating
new products to help her company keep growing. These things show that Tracey is
an intelligent, hard-working business woman.
Tracey has at least three character traits that make her a special person. She is a
good friend, a caring mother, and an intelligent business woman.
Let’s Practice